The Chesterfield football history resource

No one would claim this was the best or most significant
game seen at the Recreation Ground but I include it for two reasons.

The first is that it was a game I couldn’t attend as I had
to get a train to Lincoln in connection with my licence to marry. I determined to watch the first half and then
leave for the station at half-time.
Kevin Arnott scored a quality free-kick but Halifax replied with goals
from three poorly defended crosses so the half-time position seemed hopeless.

For some reason I didn’t leave. Instead I convinced my brother he could take
me to Newark after the final whistle to pick up my train. My inane optimism was rewarded when a Bryn
Gunn penalty and a header from Dave Waller brought the Spireites level.

The winning goal from Waller is the second reason I include
this game. It was a last-minute winner
that sent the majority of the 2998 fans home happy but is a goal cited in
FourFourTwo magazine as Chesterfield’s best ever.

The magazine asked fans for a goal that was great in terms
of quality rather than significance; they clearly wanted a hidden gem rather
than legendary highlight. Every
suggestion was Jamie Hewitt’s incredible equaliser at Old Trafford but the
Editor went with this effort from a much more low-key game.

Fifty-thousand at the game and millions around the world saw
Jamie’s goal. Less than 3000 witnessed
Dave Waller’s effort. I was one of them
and I still got back to Lincoln that night.